Torpedo head



June 26, 1923.

J. A. RAYDER ToRPEDo HEAD' Filed Jan. 16. 1923 .z w w 7 Rv m z z m mzfi.wf f v Patented June 26, 1923.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH A. RAYDER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TOB'PEDO HEAD.

Application filed January 1G, 1923.

' To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JosErH A. RAYDER, a.citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county ofPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulTorpedo Head, of which the 4following is a specification.

This invention relates to torpedoes and it has more particular referenceto the foremost portion or head part thereof 1n contradistinction to thecentre portion or air chamber and the tail which carries the engines,rudders, and propellers besides the apparatus for controlling depth ofimmersion and direction of course.

More particularly though not essentially, my invention has reference totorpedoes used for target practice and naval manoeuvers, said torpedoesbeing of a non-explosive Character; that is to say more specifv'icallytorpedoes which when discharged from the torpedo tube are destined tomake a hit and sink without exploding; or, exhaust their energy in afutile course and then sink. y

Now the primary object.. of my invention is to provide a novel form oftorpedo head fitted with means whereby when the torpedo makes a hit andsinks or exhausts its course and sinks-it can be promptly located andsalvaged thereby eifecting considerable economy.

From a careful study and investigation into the aforesaid matter I haveascertained that there are great possibilities in the recovering oftorpedoes during test or practice firing on warships of all types andincluding submarines. For instance it will be readily seen that the lossof but one o`r more torpedoes of the type referred to involves a heavyfinancial wastag'e not alone in so far as its actual cost is concernedbut also in the wastage of considerable time and money in futileattempts at its location and recovery after said torpedo has ceased tofunction.

Now, I have discovered that by providing a torpedo head embodying anaudible signal which will give an alarm of suflicient duration when thetorpedo has made a hit or spent its course and sunk, said torpedo can bepromptlv located and salvaged thereby effectinrr a considerable economy.

Having the foregoing discovery in mind I have aimed at and provided atorpedo head fitted with an audible signal of suflicient Serial N'o.613,025.

power that it can be heard at a distance of five hundred or more yardseven when subrnerged to the extent of twenty fathoms and more. i lViththe'foregoing and other objects in view this invention consistsessentially in the novel features of construction, combinations andarrangements of parts constituting the torpedo head hereafter fullydescribed and more specifically defined in the subjoined claims.

In the further disclosure of the invention reference will be had to theaccompanying sheet of explanatory drawings, and in which f likecharacters of reference designate the same or corresponding parts in allthe views.

Figure lis a central longitudinal section through a torpedo headembodying one form of my present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same; and

Figure 3 is a sectional detail of a slightly modified form of circuitclosing device. hereinafter more fully described.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral 4 designates afragmentary part of the centre portion of a torpedo and which usuallyconstitutes the air Chamber or reservoir while the numeral 5 generallydesignates the foremost or head part that ordinarily contains theexplosiveusually wet gun cotton-with dry primer and a mechanicaligniting arrangement. The aforesaid parts are generally referred to byway of acquainting those having a knowledge of the art with the relationof my invention thereto.

According to my invention and as more particularly referring totorpedoes for test practice I construc't the head part 5 in conformitywith prevailing designs as a shell or cylinder in which isconcentrically secured a collapsible cylinder 6 of cork or otherappropriate material, as well asa lead or other suitable ballast block 7which serves to maintain the torpedo on an even keel. Axially concentricof the forward end of the aforesaid coll-apsible cylinder 6 I mount ametal covered-in water-tight box 8 in which is secured a high or lowfrequency buzzer 9. This buzzer 9 may be secured to the forward end andinside of the box 8 by, bolts, screws or their equivalent, or it may bewelded thereto. Fitted in the forward end 8' of the watertight box 8 area pair of glands or stufiing boxes 10, 10' through which are passedconducting wires 11, 11' respectively, the former of which connectsthrough a gland 12 With one terminal of a multiple-cell battery 13enclosed in a suitable box 111 mounted on the aforementioned ballastblock 7. The other conducting Wire 11' connects through a gland 15 intoa Water tight cylinder 16 of brass or other suitable material, thathouses a fibre or other insulate block 17 on which is mounted a springjack 18 hereinafter more fully explained, said jack having the free endof said conducting Wire 11' suitably attached to one side or bladethereof. Leading from the other terminal of the multiplecell battery 13through a gland 19 is a return Wire 20 the free end whereof is passedthrough a second gland 21 into the Watertight cylinder 16 and connectedto the spring jack 18 in opposed relation to the free end of theconducting Wire 11'; or, in other words, to the opposed blade of saidjack. The aforesaid water-tight cylinder 16 is suitably screwed into thereinforced end 22 of the domed forward head part 5 and it is closed inwatertight by a removable cap or plug 23 having an integral or attachedring 24 for the purpose of making a line fast thereto after location ofthe fired or spent torpedo. It is to be here noted that the watertightcylinder 16 is disposed aXially concentric and longitudinal of the headpart 5. The removable cap or plug 23 is centrally counter bored andfitted With a stufling 'box or gland 25 through which passes a rod orplug 26 the inner end 27 whereof is suitably globular shaped for lookingengagement in the hereinbefore referred to spring jack 18 as later onexplained.

'Secured on the outer reduced end of the rod or plug 26 by means of alock nut 28 is a bar 29 the free ends whereof are fashioned asconcavo-convex or dished plungers 30, 30, and it is to be noted that thebar 29 is disposed at .right angles to the a-Xis of the rod or plug 26.Although I have only shown one bar 29 it Will be obvious that it may bereplaced by a cruciform or other multiple and radially armed member, thefree ends Whereof are each provided with dished plungers 30 as above setforth. Intermediate the bar 29 and the outer end of the removable cap orplug 23 I arrange a spiral spring 31 which tends to keep the globularend 27 of the rod or plug 26 from engagement with the jack 18. Thespring 31 is of just sufficient strength to give a tension that isovercome by the momentum of the torpedo When travelling through theWater after firing, and in order to prevent the recoil of said springWhen the bar 21 is driven rearwards 'by said momentum I provide a catchhook 32 for engagement with the bar 29 as later on explained.

It is to be here remarked that the wires 11, 11' and 20 are heavilyarmoured with lead so as not to be affe'cted by the oil 33 with whichtorpedo heads for test and practice firing are invariably filled. I alsodesire to here point out that the form of torpedo head just describedhas been specially designed for firing under water inasmuch as thefiring of a torpedo equipped With a head as shown more particularly byFigurcs 1 and 2 of the drawings above water level as from the largertypes of War craft such as first 'class battleships might result ininjury to the dished plungers as Well as prematurely energizing the highor low frequency buzzer 9. To overcome such possible objectionablefeatures, and in order to adapt my invention for use in connection Withtorpedoes which are fired at a height above water level I employ themeans shown in Figure 3, and from which it will be readily seen that thewatertight cylinder 16, removable cap or plug 23, rod or plug 26, andsalvaging ring 2-1 are of the same pattern as hereinbefore described. Inthis instance, however, the bar 29 and catch hook 32 are omitted whilethe aforesaid rod or plug 26 is fashioned with a head or nut 34 betweenwhich and the outer end of the 'cap or plug 23, I interpose a solublesalt or calcium washer 35, while a spring 36 is interposed between thestufling box or' gland 25 and a shoulder or collar 37 on said rod orplug 26. Thus it will be readily seen that 'the soluble salt or calciumwasher 35 serves under normal conditions to maintain the globular end 27and spring 'a'ck 18 separated but when the torpedo is 'red and getsimmersed the said washer 35 will dissolve and the spring 36 exerting itsforce will bring the globular end 27 and *jaclr 18 into lookingengagement to close a circui-t through the high or low frequency buzzer9 and give the required audible signal Whereby the torpedo may bcproinptly located and salvaged. The aforesaid spring 36 is of sufiicientstrength when freed by the dissolving of the salt or calcium washer 35to firmly retain the globular end 27 of the rod or plug 26 'between theopposed contact portions of the jack 18 whereby the circuit from thebattery 13 to the 'buzzer 9 remains closed until said bat-- tery 13becomes spent or dead.

aving outlined the structure of my novel torpedo head for practice ortest fired torpedos I will now briefly describe its operation. Assumingthat a torpedo fitted with a head as hereinbefore described is firedfrom a torpedo tube on board a war craft it will be clearly a-ppa-rentthat as said torpedo travels through the Water towards its objectivethat the momentum of said travel will force the dished plungers 30rearwards or dissolve the washer 35 With a. consequential rearwardmovement of the rod or plug 26 under the action of the sprmgs 3].

or 36. Due to this rearward movementof the rod or plug 26 it will beeasily understood by those conversant with the art that the globular end27 will be forced into the spring jack 18 thereby closing a circuit fromthe battery 13 through the conducting wirell to the high orlow frequencybuzzer 9, conducting Wire 11', connected half of the jack 18, globularend 27, opposed half of said`jack 18, and return wire 20 back to thebattery 13. Obviously the closure of this circuit will result in thebuzzer 9 giving an audible signal, and by the engagement of the bar 29with the catch hook 3:2 said alarm'will'continue to be sounded until thebattery 13 is spent or exhausted. On an actual test with an ordinary drycell battery such as could be conveniently used, said test showed thatwhile Operating with a heavy duty six Volt buzzer a maximum vibrationwas given .off for twenty-eight hours. i

From the foregoing description and an examination of the drawings itwill be clea-rly apparent that by my invention I have provided a simpleand inexpensive head for practice torpedoes by the use of which saidtorpedoes can be promptly located and salvaged with but little troubleand thereby efliecting an enormous economy over prevail- W ing wastagein time and labor.

Briefiy summarizing: When a practice torpedo has been fired, many thingshappen in a very short space'of time. Some torpedoes make a completerun; others but a part thereof, some fail to travel much farther than afew yards beyond the torpedo tube outlet and then sink. On the otherhand some torpedoes make a short run and then dart off in an entirelydifferent course than that intended thereby throwing the observingvessel off its track. 1Vhere any of the foregoing conditions arise therange boat, which is usually at hand, must steer in an approximatedirection and search for the air bubbles that will be emitted from theair Chamber and rise to the watefls surface. Even when the water or seais smooth, this search for air bubbles often extends for hours and inmay instances is fruitless. Again when the sea is choppy or rough such asearch is hopeless when the torpedo has been fired and sunk withoutmaking a hit or completing its run and sunk. Now it will be apparentthat where practice torpedoes fitted With my novel form of head arefired they can be promptly located by the usual under water listeningapparatus with which range boats are equipped, and the course or pointof sinking of said torpedoes followed as long as the audible signaltherein contained functions. Thus it will be apparent that my inventionis of prime importance for the purposes for which it, has been designed,and while I have shown and described practical embodiments thereof, thesame are not to be restrictedly construed in that it will be apparentvarious changes in the details of construction as well as in therelative disposition of the several parts may be evolved withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my said invention. The right is,therefore, hereby reserved to make such changes and modifications asfairly lie within the scope of the appcnded claims.

jIaVing described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is 2- 1. The combination with a torpedo -for practicefiring, of a head containing an audible signal, and means foractuating'said signal comprising means operated by the resistance of thewater to the motion of the torpedo.

2. The combination with a torpedo for practice firing, of a headcontaining an audible signal, means for actuating said signal comprisingmeans operated by the resistance of the Water to the motion of thetorpedo, and means for holding said actuating means in operativeposition.

3. The combination with a torpedo head, of an audible signal therein, anelectric circuit including electric responsivemeans for actuating saidsignal, and means for closing said circuit to actuate the signalcomprising means responsive to the resistance of the Water to the motionof the torpedo.

4. A head for torpedoes of the type hereinbefore described including acylindric casing, a ballast block in said casing, a collapsible cylinderlongitudinally concentric within the casing, a fluid proof box centrallysecured on the forward end of the collapsible cylinder and containing abuzzer, a multiplecell battery mounted on the aforesaid ballast block, alongitudinally disposed watertight cylinder centrally supported withinthe forward end of the torpedo head, opposed contact members within thewatertight cylinder connected in circuit with the aforesaid battery andbuzzer, and means for` closing a circuit through the opposed contactmembers by the resistance to the motion of the torpedo when firedwhereby the buzzer is energized.

f 5. A head for torpedoes of the type hereinbefore described including acylindric casing, a ballast block in said casing, a collapsible cylinderlongitudinally concentric within the casing, a fluid proof box housingabuzzer centrally secured on 'the forward end of said collapsiblecylinder, an enclosed multiple-cell battery mounted on the aforesaidballast block, a longitudinally disposed watertight cylinder centrallysupported within the forward end of the torpedo head, opposed contactmembers on an insulate base at the rear end within the watertightcylinder, armoured wires connecting said contact members with theaforesaid battery and buz zer, and means for closing a Circuit throughthe opposed contact members by the resistance to the motion of thetorpedorwhen fired Whereby the buzzer is energized.

6. Ahead for torpedoes of the type herein before described including acylndric casing, a ballast block in said casing, a collapsible cylinderlongitudinally concentric within the casing, a fluid proof box housing abuzzer centrally secured on the forward end of the said collapsiblecylinder, an enclosed multiple-cell battery mounted on the aforesaidballast block, a longitudinally disposed watertight cylinder centrallysupported within the forward end of the torpedo head, opposed contactmembers on an insulate base at'the rear'end within the watertightcylinder, armoured wires connecting said contact members with theaforesaid battery and buzzer, a removable plug for closing thewatertight cylinder and having a salvaging ring at its outer end, a.spring influenced rod concentrically movable through said removable plugand having a globular end for engagement between the aforesaid opposedcontact members7 a bar at right angles-to and mounted on the outer endof the spring influenced rod, said bar having its ends fashioned asdished plunger cups, and means for locking the bar to the torpedo headwhen forced rearward by the resistance to1 the mot-ion of the torpedowhen fired whereby the buzzer is energized. v

7. Ahead for torpedoes of the type herein before described including acylindric casing, a ballast block in said casing, a co1lapsible cylinderlongitudin ally concentric withbase at the rear end within thewatertight I cylinder, armoured wires connecting said contact memberswith the aforesaid battery and buzzer, a removable plug closing in thewatertight'cylinder and having a salvaging ring at the outer end, aspring influenced rod concentrically movable through said removable plugand having its inner end fashioned for frictional engagement between theaforesaid opposed contact members, means for maintaining a watertightjoint about the aforesaid rod, a bar at right angles to and mounted onthe outer end of the spring influenced rod, said bar having its endsfash ioned as dished plunger cups and a catch for looking the bar to thetorpedo head when forced rearwards -by the resistance to the motion ofthe torpedo when fired the buzzer is energized.

8. The combination with a torpedo head, of an audible signal therein, anelectric circuit including electric responsive means for actuating thesignal, and means for closing said circuit to actuate the signalcomprising means responsive to the' resistance of the water to themotionof the torpedo, and means for holding said circuit'closing means inoperative position until released.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature this 11th day of January,1923.

J-OSEPH A. RAYDER.

whereby

